Skylight structure



Febe 17, 1925. I

E. F. HAusERMANkE-r AL SKYLIGHT STRUCTURE Filed June 22, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [im f 05m/wm,

342,4 F JMW/1.' BY bea/17. Man/iff TTORNE E. F. HAUSERMAN ET' AL Feb. 17,1925.

SKYLIGHT STRUCTURE Filed June 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Feb. l?, 1925.

EARL r. Hanssen/IAN, on ctr'vnnannnnrerrrs, nenn n. SMITH,

LSZMSQ PAT 0F LAKEWOOD,

AND LEROY D. Martinair, or CLEVELAND, onto, .assrGNoRs To Trina. F, Hausnu- MAN COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, ofi-11o, .a oonrona'rrori or. OHIO.

SKYLIGHT STRUCTURE.

Appneanon ined June 22, 1922.

To all whom if may concern."

Be itxknown that we, llasr.v F. Hausnu- MAN, EARL R". SMrrH, andlln'nov D. Moivnnr, citizens of the United' States, residing at Clevelandl-leights, Lakewood, and Cleveland, Ohio, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skylight Structures, offwhiclrthe following is a specieation, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention rela-tes to skylightstructure.

One object ofthe invention is to provide aJ new and improved skylight structure adapted' toy prevent breakage ot glass due primarily to unequal settling or racking ot the supportingstructure or building-` Such' skylight structure comprising as important parts thereof a broad, substantially rigid bed for supporting the glass; and novell means for resiliently securing the glassand bed in assembled relation with eaclr other and with the supporting members-- Another object is:l to construct a skylight structure wherein movement ot the supporting members with respect to: the glass carrying bed is permitted Without imposingbrealring'strain's directly on the gl'ass. irnother object is to pro-vide a substantially rigid glassv carrying bed secured to a. sup'-` port-ing structure in aK manner to permit relative movement of tht` said parts against the action of resilient means;

Another object is to provide a new .and

improved skylight structure having resilient glass securing means located within the in'- terior thereo. i

Another Objectis to construct as a unit a combined chair and resilient,- means tor skylight structure.

Another object is to provide, iny building construction, means for mounting exposed metal or glass parts ony a supporting structure in'A a manner to ettectually' prevent leakage of Water around the securing` means or through the joints of the said parts.

Other objects will' be pointed vout in the following specication.

In skylight structures, ofthe general` type illustrated herein and in use heretofore, considerable breakage of glass has been experienced due primarily,` it is believed, to unequal settling or rackingI ot the supporting structure or building; oftenbeencarried` on a bed which was sub- The glass has Serial No. 570,19--

ject to bending or distortion with the settling or racking of the supporting strncture or building', the result being, first, a drawing away of certain parts 0'1":l the bed from the glass, leaving the tobe carriedon small and often isolated areas or' the bed as compared with the initial large. areas of support; and second, if the bending or distortion were suiiiciently great, in throwing part of the bending` torce or the weight of the supporting'structure on the glass. In other Words the bed was not substantially rigid and usually followed the supiiorting structure in its settling or racking leaving the glass little or no support' or even putting additional strain on it.

By this invention, however, the glass is carried on a. substantially rigid bed which is not bent or distorted even although certain of its supports may be withdrawn, and which thus not only strongly resists anyY dccrease of its initial, eiiiective glass carrying area, but, should the bed supporting struetureV settle or in any other manner move away from the bed so as not to support it, the bed will carry the glass without imposing bending strains thereon. Relative movement of the bed and supporting strurture are also resi-liently resisted. Furthermore, the glass is resiliently secured to the bed and supporting structure by means which can be rendered substantially Waterproof.

Inthe drawings attached to this speeili` cation and forming a part thereof.

F ig. l, is a perspective view ot' the improved skylight structure showing the parts in assembled relation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken through the chair shown in Fig. l.-

Fi'g. 3 is an enlarged vieu7 showing the relative position of the dome nut, bolt, and cap before the nut `is screwed into final p osition.

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively end and side elevations of the improved chair construction.

Fig. 6 shows in perspective a. fragment of the cap provided with a flange surrounding the bolt holes.

Fig. V is a perspective view of an improved Water proof packing strip.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional View of the dome nut.

Fig. 9 shows in perspective a modified form of chair on a reduced scale.

In the drawings, wherein is shown one embodiment of our invention, 1 indicates a sheet metal channel or rafter adapted to span the opening in a. roof or elsewhere which is to be provided with a skylight. Vithin the channel, 1, are secured a plurality of support or chairs. 3, each having side and bottom portions and being substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section with the closed or bottom end upward and the sides lying adjacent the sides of the channel, 1, and suitably secured thereto, as by a bolt, 4, and nut, 5.

The closed end, or portion, 6, of the U is restricted in width and is substantially iat to support therein a sheet metal bed, 7, having depending flanges, 10. From each side, 8, of the chair 3, tongues or projections 9, arestruck outwardly to form seats for depending flanges 10, of bed 7. The bed is thus supported over a transverse distance equal approximately to the width of the bed, the latter having thus an enlarged area adapted to afford a wide support for glass plates 11, thereon. A tongue 12, is struck inwardly from one side S, of the chair 3, to provide a seat-upon which may rest a post or threaded bolt 13, the shank of which passes through aligned openings 14, in the bottom portion of chair 3, and bed 7 Opening 14, is formed substantially mid-way between the tongues 9, and thus permits bolts 13, to pass through the portion 6, of chair 3, and bed 7 at right angles thereto. A spring 15, encircling the shank and pressing against the head of bolt 13, tends to prevent upward or outward movement of the bolt with respect to the chair 3. The bed 7, by reason of its being formed with the depending flanges 10, is substantially rigid and adapted to effectively resist any forces tending to bend or distort it or to decrease the initial relatively broad, flat surface on which the glass rests.

It will be noted that the bolt, 13, is somewhat loosely mounted in the chair, 3, and in hole, 14, such mounting combined with the spring, 15, affording the necessary side play and vertical movement required to maintain the glass in contact with the bed 7, while permitting slight movement of the bed supporting structure relative thereto.

It will be noted further that the chair, 3, interposes no obstruction to the free passage of water along the channel 1. Although this invention aims to prevent leakage of water through the skylight, it frequently happens that water of condensation collects on the glass and is discharged into the channel where it may become mixed with dust, dirt, and similar refuse. Then even slight obstructions are presented in the channel to the passage therealong of this water miX-.

ture, there is the danger of rusting which is entirely overcome by this improved strueture.

On either side of glass plates or panels, 11, strips, 16, of fibrous materialare preferably employed to prevent contact of the glass with the metal, to cushion the glass on the metal and thus prevent breakage, and to act as waterproofing elements. Preferably these strips are rendered substantially impervious to water along their edges, as is indicated at 16a in Fig. 7, the width of such impenetrability being sufficient to be overlapped by the sheet metal cap 17. A convenient method of waterproofing these strips is by taking them in roll form and dipping the ends of the rolls into a bath of suitable liquid water-proofing material. each end of the roll being thus dipped and the strip then permitted lto dry.

Sheet metal cap 17 is adapted to seat on the top packing strip 16, and may cover substantially the entire width thereof, perfora tions 18 being formed in this cap at suit able intervals to coincide with the bolts 13, which project therethrough. Preferably this cap is bowed or curved slightly so that when it is assembled with strips 16 the side edges will be forced into close fitting engagement with the upper strip and thus ten d to form a watertight joint. Dome nuts 19 having tapped openings 2() engage with the threads on the bolts 13 and serve to draw the chair 3, bed 7, strips 16, andcap 17 into close engagement with each other and with the glass plates 11. By tightening nuts 19 on bolt 13, spring 15 may be putA under considerable compression which, while holding the members in assembled relation as a unit, still permit sliding or shifting movement of the parts thereof to compensate for unequal settling or racking movement of the building or supporting structure.

Surrounding each perforation 18 is formed an upstanding flange 21 adapted to lie in fairly close contact with bolts 13, the flange being conveniently formed by eX- truding the metal around the perforation. The nut 19 is counter-sunk at 22 to engage flange 21 on the outside thereof,`the countersunk surface being so inclined with respect to the flange that it engages with the flange before the nut engages elsewhere with cap 19. Further movement of the nut on the bolt forces the flange into close engagement with both the nut and bolt. In this manner tightening of the nut on the bolt results in a substantially water tight `joint with both the bolt and the nut and leakage of water about the bolt is thus prevented.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modified form of chair comprising forked legs or sides 25 to be secured to the channel 1, a hollow top portion 26 having outstanding projections llO 27 to support flanges 10 ot bed 7. A bolt 18 and spring 15 may be retained in the interior of portion 26, the bolt projecting upwardly through a suitable hole Q8 in the top thereof. n

l-Iaving` now described this invention in sufficient detail for those skilled vin the art to understand and practice the same, what is desired to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed, it beingunderstood however, that various modifications may be made in the structure herein described Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

l,Vhat is claimed is:

l. ln a skylight structure .in combination, a sheet metal channel, a metal chair secured therein, a substantially rigid sheet metal bed channel shaped in cross section seated on the said chair with the open side down and having a flattop portion adapted to support glass plates, glass plates carried by the said bed, a sheet metal cap adapted to cover the edges of the said plates, a spring' within the said bed and a bolt extending' upwardly through the said chair, bed and cap and cooperating with the spring for securing the said plates in assembled relation.

2. 1n a skylight structure, in con'ibination,y a sheet metal channel, a metal chair secured therein and having portions projectingr outwardly from the sides thereof, a substantially rigid sheet metal bed havingl a flat portion adapted to rest loosely on the said chair and provided with depending edges to seat on the said outstanding' portions of the chair, a glass plate and packing strips on either side thereof supported by the said bed, a sheet metal cap adapted to rest upon one of the said strips, and means for yieldingly maintaining the said cap and bed in assembled relation with said glass plate and packing' strips, comprising' a spring' pressed bolt passing' through the said bed and cap.

8. In a skylight structure in combination, a plurality of bed supporting members spaced apart, a sheet metal bed havingV a wide flat top surface and down turned side edges. the said bed being supported at a plurality of points by each of a plurality of said bed supporting members, glass plates carried by the top surface of the said bed, and means carried Within each said bed supporting members for resiliently maintaining the plates, bed and supporting` members in assembled relation.

d. In a skylight structure in combination, a plurality of bed supporting members spaced apart, each having a perforation in its top portion, a sheet metalbed havingr a wide flat top surface and down turned side edges, the said bed being supported at a plurality of points by each of a plurality of said bed supporting' members, glass plates carried by the top surface of the said bed,

and means comprising' a spring' pressed threaded member carried within each said bed supporting` members and proj ectingr through the said perforation for resiliently maintaining` the plates, bed and supporting members in assembled relation.

in skylight structure. in combination, a metal chair having` side and bottom portions, a. hole through the bot-tom portion, a headed bolt, loosely mounted in the said hole, a spring' around the bolt and pressing againstthe bolt head and the chair, for withdrawing' the bolt from the opening' in the chair and a projection from one of the side portions of the chair for retaining the bolt and spring' in assembled relation with said chair.

6. In a skylight structure, in combination, a substantially rigid sheet metal bed having' downturned edges` ,class plates carried by the bed, a sheet metal cap carried by the plates and adapted to cover the edges ot' the plates above the said bed, and means for yieldinggly maintaining' the said bed and cap in assembled relation with the said plates including' a member passing' through the said bed and cap, and a spring' cooperating' therewith, the spring' being' positioned between the downturned edges of the said bed.

7. In a skylight structure, in combination, a bed having' a tlattop surface and downturned side edges, a plurality of bed supporting members engaging' the under side of the said bed between the said downturned edges, glass plates carried by the said bed, a sheetmetal cap carried by the said plates and adapted to cover the edges of the plates above the said bed, and means for holding the said bed and cap yielding'ly in assembled relation with the said plates comprising a member passing` through the said bed. cap and bed supporting members and a spring cooperating` with the said member and positioned within the bed supporting member between the downturned edges of the bed.

8. In building construction, in combination, a perforated cap member, a threaded member extending through a perforation in the said cap member, a flange around the said perforation and a member having' a threaded opening' the sides of the said opening being formed to engage the said threaded member and cause the flange to contact with the threaded member and with the Outer side of the said flange, with liquid sealing contact.

9. In skylight structure, in combination, a cap member provided with an opening' therethrough, a flange formed about said opening a. threaded member fixed wit-h respect to the cap member extending into the said opening and in substantial contact with the said flange, and a tapped member having a threaded opening formed to engage the threaded member and the outer side of the said liange whereby the flange is gripped with liquid sealing contact between the said threaded member andthe tapped member.

10. In skylight structure, in combination, a perforated cap member having a flange surrounding each perforation, a bolt 4entending through said perforation adjacent the said flange and a dome nut for each bolt having a. tapped opening for engagement with the said bolt, portions ofthe said tapped opening being counter-sunk whereby it is adapted to engage the outer side of a flange and to press it into liquid sealing engagement with the said bolt.

11. In skylight structure, in combination, a water proof joint comprising a glass plate, fibrous material arranged on either side thereof and having its edges substantiallyV impervious to water, a member for supporting the said glass plate and librous material. a cap member resting on the glass plate and fibrous material. having a perforation with an upstanding flange surrounding the same, a bolt extending through said perforation and adjacent to said liange, and a dome nut having a counter-sunk tapped opening and formed to hold said cap member, fibrous material. O'lass plate, and supporting means therefor in assembled relation, the countersunk portion of the said nut being adapted to form a. substantially water tight junction between the bolt and the said flange.

12. In a skvlight structure, a rafter, a support thereon having an aperture, a post resting on the support and having a shank portion extending through and slidable in said aperture, a spring on said shank portion retaining said post and permitting upward vielding movement thereof, a glass supporting strip resting directly on said support, glass panels resting on said strip at each side of said post, a packing strip, a retaining strip pressing the packing strip against the upper side of the said glass panels, the

packing and retaining strips having perforations engaging said post, and means engaging said post for securing said retaining strip.

13. In a skylight structure, a rafter, a support thereon, a post resting upon said support and slidably mounted therein to have upward yielding movement and provided at its upper side with a threaded extension, a glass supporting strip resting directly on said support, glass panels on said supporting strip at each side of said post, a packing strip perforated for the said post` a retaining strip pressing said packing strip against the upper side of the glass panels and having a perforation engaging said post, and a threaded head engaging the threaded eX- tension of said post and adapted to secure said retaining strip thereon.

14. In a skylight structure, a channel rafter, an inverted U-shaped support received therein and having an aperture in its upper portion, a post resting on the support and having a shank portion extending through and slidable in said aperture, A a spring on said shank portion retaining said post and permitting upward yielding movement thereof, a glass supporting strip resting upon said support, glass panels resting on said supporting strip at each side of said post, a packing strip perforated for the said shank, a retaining strip pressing the packing strip against the said glass panels at their upper side and having a perforation engaging said post, and means engaging said post for securing said retaining strip, whereby said supporting strip, glass panels and retaining strip are supported directly from said support, and all of the elements last mentioned can as a whole vhave upward yielding movement away from said support. In testimoni7 whereof, we, hereunto ailix our signatures.

EARL F. HAUSERMAN.

EARL R. SMITH.

LEROY D. MOWERY. 

